Urban area over the long-term in Italy
Italy: Urban area over the long-term was 13,580 km² per grid cell in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
13,580 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
13th
of 202 countries
All-time high
13,580 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
423.82 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Italy, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
In 2025, urban area over the long-term in Italy stood at 13,580 km² per grid cell. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 10.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Italy peaked at 13,580 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 423.82 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
Italy ranks 13th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Urban area over the long-term in Italy, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 423.82 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 529.77 km² per grid cell | +25.0% |
| 1200 | 831.33 km² per grid cell | +56.9% |
| 1300 | 2,180 km² per grid cell | +162.3% |
| 1400 | 1,148 km² per grid cell | -47.4% |
| 1500 | 1,540 km² per grid cell | +34.2% |
| 1600 | 1,990 km² per grid cell | +29.2% |
| 1700 | 1,857 km² per grid cell | -6.7% |
| 1710 | 1,921 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1720 | 1,994 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1730 | 2,070 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1740 | 2,149 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1750 | 2,231 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1760 | 2,316 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1770 | 2,404 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1780 | 2,496 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1790 | 2,590 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1800 | 2,683 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1810 | 2,738 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1820 | 2,793 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1830 | 2,931 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1840 | 3,038 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1850 | 3,151 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1860 | 3,239 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1870 | 4,006 km² per grid cell | +23.7% |
| 1880 | 4,612 km² per grid cell | +15.1% |
| 1890 | 5,124 km² per grid cell | +11.1% |
| 1900 | 5,287 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1910 | 5,341 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 1920 | 5,405 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1930 | 5,405 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 5,523 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1950 | 6,097 km² per grid cell | +10.4% |
| 1951 | 6,220 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1952 | 6,331 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1953 | 6,434 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1954 | 6,533 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1955 | 6,630 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1956 | 6,726 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1957 | 6,822 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1958 | 6,985 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1959 | 7,087 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1960 | 7,195 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1961 | 7,310 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1962 | 7,432 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1963 | 7,561 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1964 | 7,692 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1965 | 7,823 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1966 | 7,954 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1967 | 8,085 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1968 | 8,218 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1969 | 8,352 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1970 | 8,489 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1971 | 8,640 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1972 | 8,836 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1973 | 8,954 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 1974 | 9,068 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 9,173 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 9,282 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1977 | 9,382 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 9,473 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 1979 | 9,558 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 9,637 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 9,726 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 1982 | 9,791 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 9,842 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 9,888 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 9,926 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 9,973 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 10,014 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 10,052 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 10,089 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 10,070 km² per grid cell | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 10,113 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 10,168 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 10,228 km² per grid cell | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 10,283 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 10,330 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 10,369 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 10,335 km² per grid cell | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 10,370 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 10,424 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 10,508 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 10,601 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 10,708 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 10,824 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 10,942 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 11,056 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 11,162 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 11,263 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 11,357 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 11,442 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 11,446 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 11,649 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 11,789 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 11,939 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 12,081 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 12,283 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 12,427 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 12,572 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 12,717 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 12,863 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 13,010 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 13,112 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 13,214 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 13,316 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 13,418 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 13,580 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 13,580 km² per grid cell is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,007 km² per grid cell, 13.5× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Italy's 13,580 km² per grid cell is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1,372 km² per grid cell, 9.9× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term in Italy changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1300 | +162.3% | 831.33 km² per grid cell | 2,180 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +56.9% | 529.77 km² per grid cell | 831.33 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | -47.4% | 2,180 km² per grid cell | 1,148 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +34.2% | 1,148 km² per grid cell | 1,540 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +29.2% | 1,540 km² per grid cell | 1,990 km² per grid cell |
| 1100 | +25.0% | 423.82 km² per grid cell | 529.77 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 423.82 km² per grid cell | 423.82 km² per grid cell | 423.82 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 529.77 km² per grid cell | 529.77 km² per grid cell | 529.77 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 831.33 km² per grid cell | 831.33 km² per grid cell | 831.33 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 2,180 km² per grid cell | 2,180 km² per grid cell | 2,180 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 1,148 km² per grid cell | 1,148 km² per grid cell | 1,148 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 1,540 km² per grid cell | 1,540 km² per grid cell | 1,540 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 1,990 km² per grid cell | 1,990 km² per grid cell | 1,990 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 1,857 km² per grid cell | 1,857 km² per grid cell | 1,857 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 1,921 km² per grid cell | 1,921 km² per grid cell | 1,921 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 1,994 km² per grid cell | 1,994 km² per grid cell | 1,994 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 2,070 km² per grid cell | 2,070 km² per grid cell | 2,070 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 2,149 km² per grid cell | 2,149 km² per grid cell | 2,149 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 2,231 km² per grid cell | 2,231 km² per grid cell | 2,231 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 2,316 km² per grid cell | 2,316 km² per grid cell | 2,316 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 2,404 km² per grid cell | 2,404 km² per grid cell | 2,404 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 2,496 km² per grid cell | 2,496 km² per grid cell | 2,496 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 2,590 km² per grid cell | 2,590 km² per grid cell | 2,590 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 2,683 km² per grid cell | 2,683 km² per grid cell | 2,683 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 2,738 km² per grid cell | 2,738 km² per grid cell | 2,738 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 2,793 km² per grid cell | 2,793 km² per grid cell | 2,793 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 2,931 km² per grid cell | 2,931 km² per grid cell | 2,931 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 3,038 km² per grid cell | 3,038 km² per grid cell | 3,038 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 3,151 km² per grid cell | 3,151 km² per grid cell | 3,151 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 3,239 km² per grid cell | 3,239 km² per grid cell | 3,239 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 4,006 km² per grid cell | 4,006 km² per grid cell | 4,006 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 4,612 km² per grid cell | 4,612 km² per grid cell | 4,612 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 5,124 km² per grid cell | 5,124 km² per grid cell | 5,124 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 5,287 km² per grid cell | 5,287 km² per grid cell | 5,287 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 5,341 km² per grid cell | 5,341 km² per grid cell | 5,341 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 5,405 km² per grid cell | 5,405 km² per grid cell | 5,405 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 5,405 km² per grid cell | 5,405 km² per grid cell | 5,405 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 5,523 km² per grid cell | 5,523 km² per grid cell | 5,523 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 6,586 km² per grid cell | 6,097 km² per grid cell | 7,087 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 7,762 km² per grid cell | 7,195 km² per grid cell | 8,352 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 9,086 km² per grid cell | 8,489 km² per grid cell | 9,558 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 9,894 km² per grid cell | 9,637 km² per grid cell | 10,089 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 10,269 km² per grid cell | 10,070 km² per grid cell | 10,424 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 10,986 km² per grid cell | 10,508 km² per grid cell | 11,442 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 12,177 km² per grid cell | 11,446 km² per grid cell | 12,863 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 13,275 km² per grid cell | 13,010 km² per grid cell | 13,580 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More reference data data for Italy
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 8.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.927 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 8.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 8.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 41.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.05 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban area over the long-term in Italy?
- Urban area over the long-term in Italy was 13,580 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 13,580 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 423.82 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Italy rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Italy ranks 13th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Italy data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.